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Something to look forward to: A new HBO documentary claims to have uncovered the true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto, the mysterious creator of Bitcoin. The revelation, set to air next week, could have major implications for global finance and even the US presidential election.
Emmy-nominated filmmaker Cullen Hoback, known for exposing the authors of the QAnon conspiracy theory, is behind this latest investigation. The documentary will air on Tuesday at 9 p.m. EST.
Bitcoin has become a financial phenomenon since it was created in 2009. It's seen as a store of value by those wary of traditional currencies. It's also a popular tool for illegal activities such as drug trafficking and cyber-fraud.
Supported by influential people like Elon Musk, Bitcoin has grown into a trillion-dollar asset class. Even central banks now view it as a potential challenger to their systems.
Revealing the creator's identity could raise serious questions. It might implicate Satoshi in crimes involving Bitcoin. It could also establish them as one of the world's richest people, with an estimated 1.1 million Bitcoin worth about $66 billion.
Interestingly, as the documentary's air date approaches, some old Bitcoin wallets have become active. About $15 million worth of Bitcoin has been moved from accounts dormant since 2009, according to Bitcoin Magazine. These wallets' creators are very likely to have been Satoshi's earliest collaborators.
Satoshi Nakamoto's true identity has been a mystery for years. They published the Bitcoin white paper in 2008 and helped develop the system before disappearing in 2010.
Many have tried to uncover Satoshi's identity. In 2014, a journalist pointed to Japanese-American Dorian Nakamoto, but he denied it. In 2016, Australian Craig Steven Wright claimed to be Satoshi, but failed to provide proof. A British court recently ruled that Wright is not Satoshi.
Other suspects include the late software engineer Hal Finney, systems engineer Dorian Nakamoto, computer scientist Nick Szabo, and Hashcash inventor Adam Back. However, many in the Bitcoin community oppose efforts to identify Satoshi, arguing for their right to privacy.
"Until someone signs the private keys linked to Satoshi's addresses, all of this remains mere conjecture," Bitcoin podcaster Peter McCormack told Politico. "Satoshi gave the world a profound gift in Bitcoin but deliberately chose to remain anonymous – a decision that must be respected."
The potential unmasking of Satoshi could have far-reaching effects. It might impact the value of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. It could also influence regulatory approaches to digital currencies.
For the US presidential race, it's particularly significant. Republican candidate Donald Trump has been courting Bitcoin supporters. A major revelation about Bitcoin's creator could sway this voting bloc.
The documentary's claims will likely face intense scrutiny from the crypto community. Many will demand concrete proof before accepting any identity as Satoshi. But if the documentary's claims are proven true, it would solve one of the biggest mysteries of the internet age.